Chelsea F.C. head coach Liam Rosenior has called for lifetime bans for any player, coach, or manager found guilty of racist behaviour, following a recent UEFA Champions League controversy.

The incident occurred during Real Madrid CF’s 1-0 win over S.L. Benfica in Lisbon, when Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior reported racial abuse by Gianluca Prestianni. UEFA has opened an investigation into the claims.

Speaking on Thursday, Rosenior said he could not comment on the ongoing investigation but was clear about his stance.

“If any player, any coach, or any manager is found guilty of racism, they shouldn’t be in the game. It’s as simple as that. Any form of racism in society, not just football, is unacceptable,” he stated.

Rosenior, who has personally experienced racial abuse, defended Vinícius and spoke about the emotional impact of such incidents.
“When you are judged for something you should be proud of, it is the worst feeling you can ever imagine,” he said.

Benfica manager José Mourinho suggested Vinícius may have provoked the crowd with his celebration, while Benfica defended Prestianni, calling the accusations a “defamation campaign” and sharing footage to claim the distance made any alleged abuse inaudible to Real Madrid players.

Rosenior emphasized that racism in football reflects wider societal issues and urged greater accountability.

“There’s a lot of division, and people are prejudged based on background, religion, nationality, or the colour of their skin. Everybody should be judged equally based on the content of their character,” he added.

Rosenior’s remarks reignite the debate on eradicating racism in football and the need for strict sanctions against offenders, reinforcing that discriminatory behaviour has no place in the sport.